Australia Update

The Property Congress

By Eliza Theiss on Nov 21, 2016 in News

Last month, more than 700 real estate professionals converged on Hamilton Island, Queensland, Australia for a week of learning from industry leaders and experts innovating the property sector.

Hosted by Property Council of Australia, The Property Congress has become a highly anticipated annual event and the largest property conference in the region, boasting delegates from all corners of the industry – from lawyers and CEOs to architects and technology providers. For 39 years, Congress has kept the pulse of the industry and explored trends and topics impacting property and real estate.

Members of our Yardi office in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia attended the three-day conference, including Ado van Rensburg and Kelvin Manual, regional solutions managers; Nina Kaszina, marketing manager; and Terry Gowan, regional director for Australia and New Zealand.

On October 20, the event kicked off with a Welcome Beach Party hosted by Yardi. Delegates enjoyed beachside fire pits, live music, appetizers and beverages while networking on the picturesque Catseye Beach. Keynote addresses from Jacklyn Trad, Deputy Premier of Queensland and Mark Steinert, Managing Director and CEO of Stockland and National President of Property Council of Australia, welcomed delegates and focused on furthering innovation and development within Australia’s property sector.

The first day of programming at Congress explored the transformative power that buildings have on communities and the property industry’s responsibility to address challenges through long range planning. Educational sessions and panels showcased industry hot topics and trends from some of the world’s most experienced business leaders.

Morning sessions, including “New World Cities” and “Future Cities,” stressed the importance of thinking 10-15 years out ahead in the property sector. During the “New World Cities” keynote, Professor Greg Clark, Global Advisor and Chairman of The Business Cities Limited, discussed competition between the world’s existing and emerging cities. Professor Clark emphasized that by looking more than a decade into the future, city and resource planning should be done across political party lines to ensure continuity and progress. Afternoon sessions, including “The World’s Best Project” and “Resi Prophesy,” focused on new development and planning challenges.

Day 2 focused on innovation, both inside and relating to the property sector. From Adam Spencer’s keynote, “Thinking Big & Bold,” to social scientist Catherine Ball’s presentation on drone technology, attendees explored how the ever-changing modern world impacts the real estate industry.

With the spotlight on technology, e-commerce and out-of-the-box thinking, Congress challenged attendees to accept that, in many areas of the property sector, sci-fi has become reality. New technology and more efficient systems will continue to shape the way we do business in the industry.

The Property Congress’ 2016 event highlighted the need to respond to innovation, consistency and a need to adapt in fast-paced world. Get a glimpse of what you missed and watch the 2016 highlights video here. The 2017 event will be hosted in Cairns on October 18-20, 2017. Learn more at www.thepropertycongress.com.au.